Kevin Brown

 

I'm writing to share some legislative updates from the past week. The Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant awarded to the Town of Vernon, plus two important pieces of legislation have been signed into law:

1. Mental Health Parity Improvements – The existing Mental Health Parity Law has been significantly strengthened to ensure better access to care and coverage for mental health services.

2. CT Farm Bill – This new legislation provides a substantial boost to our state’s agricultural sector, supporting local farmers and promoting sustainability.

Keep scrolling to read more about each of these new laws and the grant money.

On Monday, Governor Lamont announced the awarding of more than $14 million in state grants to preserve 2,270 acres of open space and the creation of six new community green spaces in 22 towns and cities across Connecticut.

Scoring $21,682 was the Town of Vernon as part of the Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant. The Town of Vernon will utilize the funding to construct the Vernon Community Giving Garden, a community garden and greenspace on an undeveloped parcel at 8 Maple Street. The site will feature accessible pathways, raised beds for native plantings, benches, and pollinator gardens.

Last week the governor signed legislation that strengthens the state's mental health parity laws. This legislation addresses deficiencies in the prior 2019 Mental Health Parity Law, which lacked robust enforcement mechanisms.

This new law significantly improves enforcement of the existing law by:

• Enabling the state to fine insurance companies that do not comply with mental health parity laws, which require insurance companies to provide the same coverage for mental health as they would for any medical or surgical condition. Those who don’t comply can face fines up to $625,000.
• Increasing transparency by requiring public annual reports that disclose whether insurers are complying with the law.
• Limiting insurers' ability to use "step therapy," a protocol that requires patients to try less expensive (and potentially less effective) treatments before accessing those recommended by their doctors. 

This legislation makes Connecticut's mental health parity laws among the strongest in the nation.

Governor Lamont's newly signed CT Farm Bill provides a significant boost to Connecticut's agricultural sector by introducing a broad suite of incentives and protections aimed at strengthening local farms.

Here's a breakdown of what this legislation means for farm owners:

A 20% Tax Credit for “Farm Investment Property”

• Encourages investment in equipment, infrastructure, and technology.
• Helps farmers offset costs of modernizing and expanding operations.

Crop Loss Reimbursement

• Provides financial support for farmers hit by natural disasters or other crop-damaging events.
• Aims to improve stability and risk management for growers.

Drone Regulations to Boost Innovation

• Clarifies and potentially simplifies rules around drone usage.
• Promotes precision agriculture through improved data collection, monitoring, and efficiency.

Support for Shellfish, Agritourism & More

• Expands state-level backing for niche and value-added farm activities.
• Recognizes the role of aquaculture and farm-based tourism in rural economic development.

Expanding Land Access Grants

• Makes it easier for new and historically underserved farmers to acquire farmland.
• Addresses long-standing barriers to land ownership and usage.

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